Bush plans to run to state basketball tournament

Updated 7:06 pm, Monday, January 14, 2013

Jalin LeBlanc, left, who transferred from Westside, is a 6-7, 220-pound tower of power for the Bush Broncos.

Jalin LeBlanc, left, who transferred from Westside, is a 6-7, 220-pound tower of power for the Bush Broncos.

Photo: Bob Levey, Photographer

Bush plans to run to state basketball tournament

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Fort Bend ISD sent four boys basketball squads to the state tournament in the last five years. Only Bush came away with the crown.

Now the 2010 Class 5A state champion Broncos are bidding for another trip to Austin, despite sending their big man, 6-9 center Cameron Ridley, there to play for the Longhorns after last season.

"We have the best coach in Texas, so I wouldn't be surprised if we get back there this year," junior guard Kelly Oubre said of Ronnie Courtney, who also won a ring at Willowridge in 2001.

The Broncos are coming off a 61-58 overtime win over district rival and 2012 state finalist Travis, which boasts twin 6-5 guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison, who committed to Kentucky.

It was their second victory over Travis this season.

"Travis … that's our rival, so every time we play it's always a packed house," Oubre said. "It's a great environment, just like in college. It's equivalent, (and) playing against these two twins, that's an honor, because next year they're going to be on TV doing big things.

"So it's a great honor to beat them."

But district honors aren't the ultimate goal for the Broncos (20-5, 4-1). They're searching for more state glory. And this year's team looks a lot like the one that found it.

Change in strategy

The biggest difference is a glaring one - no Ridley in the middle. But that might be a good thing.

"We're running," Oubre said. "That's our game - we're running up and down the court. Cameron was a big help, but we're faster and stronger this year."

Ridley was on the championship team, but as a sophomore he played more of a supporting role, blocking shots and rebounding for a team with long-limbed guards who wanted to run.

The last two years, with Ridley as the focal point, the Broncos didn't run as much - and everybody knew who the offense ran through.

"It's a breath of fresh air, because now you can't put three guys around anybody on my team, because all of us can play and all of us can score," Courtney said. "When I had Ridley, they put three guys around him and dared us to score.

"So now if you dare us to score, we can score."

They can still rebound, too.

Ridley's gone, but powerful center Jalin LeBlanc, a 6-7, 220-pound transfer from Westside, and athletic forward Brandon Jones, a 6-5, 220-pound transfer from Westbury Christian, took his place inside.

And they're not even the leading rebounders on the team.

That's Oubre, a 6-8 guard who has erupted in Ridley's absence, averaging 25 points and 14 boards per game.

"I just try to do whatever I can to help my team win - just be the best player, best leader, best teammate I can be," Oubre said.

Winning attitude

Courtney said the Broncos' 2010 run hinged on their refusal to lose, which this squad is developing, though senior guard Shawndre Jones showed his will to win against Travis.

Courtney also sees key similarities.

"I had three 6-5 guards back then," Courtney said. "I don't have three 6-5 guards now, but as far as what we do and how we understand the game, how we play the game according to how I teach them, I think we're very similar."